Computer, access point, network and control methods thereof

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

p-0002This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-0036137, filed May 20, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-00031. Field of the Invention

p-0004The present invention relates to a computer, an access point, a network system and methods therefor, and more particularly, to a computer, an access point, a network system and methods therefor where a host provides data about its data transmitting/receiving state to a client, thereby allowing the client to check the data transmitting/receiving state of the host.

p-00052. Description of the Related Art

p-0006As network technology such as the Internet has been recently developing, the utility of computers is looming large. Particularly, as the use of portable computers, e.g., a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, etc., has recently spread, access of the Internet environment through a wireless network such as wireless local area network (LAN), for example, has also been rapidly developing. Therefore, a user can receive diverse information and services through the wireless network while traveling.

p-0007Generally, a wireless network system includes a client, such as a computer, receiving services through the wireless network, and an access point (AP) enabling wireless communication with the computer, as well as to relay between the computer and a wired network system, i.e., non-wireless.

p-0008In such a wireless network system, one of the computer, the access point and a network server may be in trouble. For example, when the access point may be in the trouble, a user cannot access the wireless network system through the computer.

p-0009However, in conventional wireless network systems, even though some trouble arises while a user accesses the wireless network system through the computer, there is no way to determine what element among the computer, the access point and the network server is in the cause of trouble.

p-0010Further, when the user has insufficient knowledge of the wireless network system's state, a user is likely to infer that the computer is in trouble when a user cannot access the wireless network system through his/her computer, even though the access point or the network server is the real cause of the trouble.

p-0011Substantially, in computer manufacturer warranty request complaints about troubles with wireless network systems, the typical real problem is not due to a problem with the user's computer but, rather, with other elements of the wireless network, e.g., because a user uses his/her normal computer in a service area of an access point already in trouble.

p-0012Such a problem may arise in the wired network system, as well as the wireless network system. Further, because the user doesn't have enough information about the wireless or wired systems the user is likely to infer only that his/her computer is in trouble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0013Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a computer, an access point, a network system and methods therefore where a host provides data about its data transmitting/receiving state to a client, thereby allowing the client to check the data transmitting/receiving state of the host.

p-0014Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

p-0015The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a network system including a host comprising a first network module, and a first controller checking a data transmitting/receiving state of the first network module and outputting operation state data corresponding to the data transmitting/receiving state of the first network module; and a client including a display, a second network module connected to the host and receiving the operation state data from the host, and a second controller controlling the display to display information about the data transmitting/receiving state of the first network module of the host on the basis of the operation state data received through the second network module.

p-0016According to an embodiment of the present invention, the host further includes an access point to which the client is wirelessly connected through a wireless network.

p-0017According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first controller embeds the operation state data in a beacon signal, transmitted by the host, to transmit the operation state data.

p-0018According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first controller records the operation state data in a capability information field of a frame body of the beacon signal.

p-0019According to an embodiment of the present invention, the operation state data includes information about a first connection state corresponding to a wireless data transmitting/receiving state between at least one other client connected to the access point and the access point and/or between the client and the access point.

p-0020According to an embodiment of the present invention, the information about the first connection state includes at least one of authentication information about the client trying to access the access point, and information about a wireless data transmitting/receiving error between the access point and the client and/or between the access point and the other client.

p-0021According to an embodiment of the present invention, the information about the wireless data transmitting/receiving error includes at least one of information about a retried packet rate per a predetermined period, and information about a cyclic redundancy checking (CRC) error rate per a predetermined period.

p-0022According to another embodiment of the present invention, the network system further includes a network server connected to the access point through a wired network, wherein the operation state data includes information about a second connection state corresponding to a wired data transmitting/receiving state between the network server and the access point.

p-0023According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the information about the second connection state includes information about an irresponsiveness rate with respect to a PING from the access point toward the network server.

p-0024According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the operation state data includes auxiliary information to define a sub-state with respect to information about the first connection state and/or the second connection state.

p-0025According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the network system further includes a network server connected to the access point through a wired network, wherein the operation state data includes information about a second connection state corresponding to a wired data transmitting/receiving state between the network server and the access point.

p-0026According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the host includes a server to which the client is wire-connected.

p-0027The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing an access point relaying data transmission between a network server and a client, the access point including a wireless network module wirelessly communicating with the client; and a controller checking a data transmitting/receiving state related to the wireless network module and transmitting operation state data corresponding to the data transmitting/receiving state through the wireless network module.

p-0028According to another embodiment of the present invention, the controller embeds the operation state data in a beacon signal and transmits the beacon signal to the client through the wireless network module.

p-0029According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the controller records the operation state data in a capability information field of a frame body of the beacon signal.

p-0030According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the operation state data includes information about a first connection state corresponding to a wireless data transmitting/receiving state between at least one other client connected to the access point through the wireless network module and the access point and/or between the client and the access point.

p-0031According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the information about the wireless data transmitting/receiving error includes at least one of information about a retried packet rate per a predetermined period, and information about a cyclic redundancy checking (CRC) error rate per a predetermined period.

p-0032According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the access point further includes a wired network module wire-connected to and wire-communicating with the network server, wherein the operation state data includes information about a second connection state corresponding to a wired data transmitting/receiving state between the network server and the access point.

p-0033According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the operation state data includes information about a second connection state corresponding to a wired data transmitting/receiving state between the network server and the access point.

p-0034According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer communicating with a host through a network, the computer including a display displaying a picture; a network module communicating with the host through the network; and a controller detecting operation state data from data received through the network module and controlling the display to display information about a data transmitting/receiving state of the host on the basis of the detected operation state data.

p-0035According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of controlling a network system including a host and a client communicating with the host, the method including creating operation state data corresponding to a data transmitting/receiving state of the host; transmitting the operation state data from the host; receiving the operation state data transmitted from the host by the client; and allowing the client to display information about the data transmitting/receiving state of the host on the basis of the operation state data.

p-0036According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the host includes an access point to which the client is wirelessly connected through a wireless network, and the creating of the operation state data includes embedding the operation state data in a beacon signal.

p-0037According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the creating of the operation state data includes detecting information about a first connection state corresponding to a wireless data transmitting/receiving state between other client connected to the access point and the access point and/or between the client and the access point.

p-0038According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the detecting of the information about the first connection state includes at least one of detecting authentication information about the client trying to access the access point, and detecting information about a wireless data transmitting/receiving error between the access point and the client and/or between the access point and the other client.

p-0039According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the detecting of the information about the wireless data transmitting/receiving error includes at least one of detecting information about a retried packet rate per a predetermined period, and detecting information about a cyclic redundancy checking (CRC) error rate per a predetermined period.

p-0040According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the network system includes a network server connected to the access point through a wired network, and the creating of the operation state data includes detecting information about a second connection state corresponding to a wired data transmitting/receiving state between the network server and the access point.

p-0041According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the detecting of the information about the second connection state includes calculating an irresponsiveness rate with respect to a PING from the access point toward the network server.

p-0042According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the network system includes a network server connected to the access point through a wired network, and the creating of the operation state data includes detecting information about a second connection state corresponding to a wired data transmitting/receiving state between the network server and the access point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0043The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings of which:

p-0044<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a control block diagram of a network system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

p-0045<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates a network system, according to another embodiment of the present invention;

p-0046<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a control block diagram of an access point, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

p-0047<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a frame of a beacon signal transmitted from an access point, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

p-0048<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a control block diagram of a computer, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

p-0049<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates access point information displayed on a computer, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

p-0050<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a control flowchart of a network system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

p-0051<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> illustrates a network system, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

p-0052Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

p-0053<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a control block diagram of a network system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the network system includes a client <b>300</b> and a host <b>100</b>, to which the client <b>300</b> is connected through a network.

p-0054The host <b>100</b> includes a first network module <b>120</b> transmitting/receiving data through the network and a first controller <b>110</b>, with the first controller <b>110</b> checking a data transmitting/receiving state of the first network module <b>120</b>, and with the first network module <b>120</b> transmitting corresponding operation state data of the data transmitting/receiving state of the first network module <b>120</b> to the client <b>300</b>.

p-0055The client <b>300</b> may include a display <b>330</b> displaying a picture thereon, a second network module <b>320</b> receiving the operation state data from the host <b>100</b>, and a second controller <b>310</b> controlling the display <b>330</b> to display information about the data transmitting/receiving state of the host <b>100</b> according to the operation state data received from the second network module <b>320</b>.

p-0056Hereinafter, the client <b>300</b> will be referenced by computer <b>30</b> (<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>) and computer <b>30</b>′ (<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>), as examples, but not limited thereto, and may include various network supporting devices, as long as it is connected to the host <b>100</b> through a network and capable of transmitting data to and receiving data from the host <b>100</b>.

p-0057<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates a network system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this network system, an access point <b>10</b> is used as the host <b>100</b> to support a wireless network, and computer <b>30</b> is employed as the client <b>300</b> and connected to the access point <b>10</b> through a wireless network.

p-0058As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the network system includes the access point <b>10</b> providing interworking service between a wireless LAN service area and a wired LAN service area, with the computer <b>30</b> wirelessly transmitting/receiving data through the access point <b>10</b>.

p-0059Here, the wireless network between the access point <b>10</b> and the computer <b>30</b> may be based on an international electrical &amp; electronics engineering (IEEE) 802.11 specification, by way of example, but is not limited thereto.

p-0060The access point <b>10</b> manages the network within its own service area, and is connected to a network server <b>70</b> through a backbone network <b>50</b>, thereby supporting wired/wireless interworking services between the network server <b>70</b> and the computer <b>30</b>. Further, the access point <b>10</b> may periodically output a “beacon” signal, allowing the computer <b>30</b> to recognize that the computer <b>30</b> is located within the service area of the access point <b>10</b>, as well as transmit information about the access point <b>10</b> to the computer <b>30</b>. Here, the service areas of respective access points <b>10</b> may overlap each other, and thus the computer <b>30</b> may be located within a shared service area of two or more access points <b>10</b>.

p-0061<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a control block diagram of the access point <b>10</b>, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the access point <b>10</b> may include an antenna <b>14</b>, a first network module <b>12</b> having a wireless network module <b>12</b><i>a </i>and a wired network module <b>12</b><i>b, </i>a packet processor <b>13</b>, and a first controller <b>11</b> controlling the same.

p-0062The wireless network module <b>12</b><i>a </i>receives data through the antenna <b>14</b> and transmits it to the packet processor <b>13</b>. Here, the data received by the wireless network module <b>12</b><i>a </i>may include a data packet based on an IEEE 802.11 specification. The packet processor <b>13</b> decodes the data packet and transmits it to the network server <b>70</b> through the wired network module <b>12</b><i>b. </i>Further, the packet processor <b>13</b> encodes the data received through the wired network module <b>12</b><i>b </i>and transmits it to the computer <b>30</b> through the wireless network module <b>12</b><i>a, </i>thereby acting as a relay between the network server <b>70</b> and the computer <b>30</b>.

p-0063The first controller <b>11</b> can check a data transmitting/receiving state of the first network module <b>12</b> and create operation state data corresponding to the data transmitting/receiving state. Further, the first controller <b>11</b> may then transmit the created operation state data to the computer <b>30</b> through the wireless network module <b>12</b><i>a. </i>

p-0064According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first controller <b>11</b> embeds the operation state data in a beacon signal in order to transmit the operation state data.

p-0065<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a data frame of a beacon signal based on the IEEE 802.11 specification. Here, fields of the data frame are based on a well-known IEEE 802.11 specification, and therefore their detailed descriptions will be avoided.

p-0066Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the data frame includes a frame body field. The frame body field includes a plurality of sub-fields, such as a capability information field. Further, the capability information field further includes a plurality of sub-fields. Here, the capability information field forms two octets, wherein a portion from a bit-<b>8</b> to a bit-<b>15</b> is allocated to a reserved field, presently unassigned. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first controller <b>11</b> records the operation state data in the reserved field of the capability information field so as to transmit the operation state data, e.g., to computer <b>30</b>.

p-0067Meanwhile, the operation state data of the network system may include information about a first connection state, corresponding to a wireless data transmitting/receiving state between other clients <b>300</b>, shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, connected to the access point <b>10</b> and/or between the computer <b>30</b> and the access point <b>10</b>.

p-0068For example, information about the first connection state can include authentication information about the client trying to access the access point <b>10</b>. That is, the first controller <b>11</b> may calculate a ratio of access or authentication failure frequencies to access or authentication attempt frequencies for a client and the access point <b>10</b> during a preset period, and then may add the calculated ratio, as the information about the first connection state, to the operation state data. Here, when an access failure or authentication failure rate per preset period is beyond a predetermined rate, e.g., 80%, the computer <b>30</b> may determine that the access point <b>10</b> is in trouble.

p-0069Further, the information about the first connection state can further include information about a wireless data transmitting/receiving error between the access point <b>10</b> and a client(s) connected to the access point <b>10</b>. For example, the information about the first connection state can include information about a retried packet rate between the access point <b>10</b> and the client, per a predetermined period. That is, the first controller <b>11</b> may retry receiving data packet from the computer <b>30</b> when there is trouble in receiving the data packet. At this time, the first controller <b>11</b> can calculate a ratio of the retried packets to the whole data packets received from the computer <b>30</b> during a predetermined period, and then add the calculated ratio, as the information about the first connection state, to the operation state data. Alternatively, the first controller <b>11</b> may calculate a ratio of the retried packet to the whole data packets, transmitted to the computer <b>30</b> during a predetermined period, and then add that ratio, as the information about the first connection state, to the operation state data.

p-0070Also, the information about the wireless data transmitting/receiving error can include information about a cyclic redundancy checking (CRC) error rate, per a predetermined period. For example, the first controller <b>11</b> can calculate a ratio of the CRC error packets to the whole data packets, per a predetermined period, and then add that ratio to the operation state data.

p-0071Additionally, the operation state data, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may include information about a second connection state corresponding to a wired data transmitting/receiving state between the network server <b>70</b> and the access point <b>10</b>. Therefore, the operation state data may include information about some trouble in the wired network, between the network server <b>70</b> and the access point <b>10</b>. For example, the first controller <b>11</b> may periodically transmit a packet Internet groper (PING) to the network server <b>70</b>, to check the network server <b>70</b>. At this time, the first controller <b>11</b> can calculate an irresponsiveness rate, with respect to the PING toward the network server <b>70</b> per a predetermined period, and then add that calculated rate to the operation state data.

p-0072The following Table 1 illustrates that a first controller <b>11</b>, according to an embodiment of the present invention, e.g., <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, can record operation state data, e.g., in a beacon signal. For example, the first controller <b>11</b> may allocate the operation state data to the bit-<b>8</b> and bit-<b>9</b> of the aforementioned capability information field, wherein the bit-<b>8</b> and the bit-<b>9</b> are recorded as “00” when the access point <b>10</b> is in normal operation, as “01” when the access/authentication failure rate is beyond a predetermined rate, as “10” when the wireless data transmitting/receiving error rate is beyond a predetermined rate, and as “11” when the wired data transmitting/receiving error rate is beyond a predetermined rate. Thus, the operation state data of the access point <b>10</b> can be embedded in the beacon signal and then output to any potential client.

p-0073<tables id="TABLE-US-00001" num="00001"><table frame="none" colsep="0" rowsep="0"><tgroup align="left" colsep="0" rowsep="0" cols="3"><colspec colname="1" colwidth="28pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="2" colwidth="28pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="3" colwidth="161pt" align="left" /><thead><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" rowsep="1">TABLE 1</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row><row><entry>Bit-8</entry><entry>Bit-9</entry><entry>Operation state of Access point</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></thead><tbody valign="top"><row><entry>0</entry><entry>0</entry><entry>Normal operation</entry></row><row><entry>0</entry><entry>1</entry><entry>High access/authentication failure rate</entry></row><row><entry>1</entry><entry>0</entry><entry>High wireless data transmitting/receiving error rate</entry></row><row><entry>1</entry><entry>1</entry><entry>High wired data transmitting/receiving error rate</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

p-0074Further, the operation state data, according to embodiments of the present invention, may also include auxiliary information to define a sub-state in more detail, with respect to information about the first connection state and/or the second connection state, for example.

p-0075The auxiliary information can include more detailed information about the access/authentication failure rate of the information about the first connection state. For example, as shown in the following Table 2, the auxiliary information may include information that the access failure rate is high for only one client, the access failure rate is high at two or more clients, the authentication failure rate is high for only one client, and/or the authentication failure rate is high for two or more clients, thereby providing more detailed information about the access point <b>10</b> to the computer <b>30</b>, e.g., a user at the computer <b>30</b>.

p-0076By way of example, the first controller <b>11</b>, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may allocate the auxiliary information to a bit-<b>14</b> and a bit-<b>15</b> of the aforementioned capability information field, so as to transmit the auxiliary information.

p-0077<tables id="TABLE-US-00002" num="00002"><table frame="none" colsep="0" rowsep="0"><tgroup align="left" colsep="0" rowsep="0" cols="3"><colspec colname="1" colwidth="28pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="2" colwidth="28pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="3" colwidth="161pt" align="left" /><thead><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" rowsep="1">TABLE 2</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row><row><entry>Bit-14</entry><entry>Bit-15</entry><entry>Auxiliary information</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></thead><tbody valign="top"><row><entry>0</entry><entry>0</entry><entry>High access failure rate for one client</entry></row><row><entry>0</entry><entry>1</entry><entry>High access failure rate for two or more clients</entry></row><row><entry>1</entry><entry>0</entry><entry>High authentication failure rate for one client</entry></row><row><entry>1</entry><entry>1</entry><entry>High authentication failure rate for two or more clients</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="3" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

p-0078Meanwhile, the computer <b>30</b> used as the client <b>300</b> (shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>), according to embodiments of the present invention, will be further described with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>.

p-0079As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the computer <b>30</b> may include a central processing unit (CPU) <b>41</b>, a graphic controller <b>40</b> connected to a display <b>33</b> and outputting a video signal to the display <b>33</b>, a memory control hub (MCH) <b>34</b>, and an input/output control hub (ICH) <b>35</b>.

p-0080A memory unit <b>36</b> may include a random access memory (RAM) <b>36</b><i>a, </i>as a nonvolatile memory, a basic input/output system (BIOS)—read only memory (ROM) <b>36</b><i>c, </i>storing a start-up routine such as BIOS booting, and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) RAM <b>36</b><i>b. </i>

p-0081The memory control hub <b>34</b> may control the RAM <b>36</b><i>a, </i>and manage data communication among the CPU <b>41</b>, the RAM <b>36</b><i>a, </i>and the graphic controller <b>40</b>. Here, the graphic controller <b>40</b> can also be integrally provided with the memory control hub <b>34</b> as a single chipset, e.g., a graphic memory control hub (GMCH).

p-0082The input/output control hub <b>35</b> may manage data communication among the RAM <b>36</b><i>a, </i>connected to the memory control hub <b>34</b>, and the other components, such as the BIOS ROM <b>36</b><i>c, </i>the CMOS RAM <b>36</b><i>b, </i>a hard disk drive <b>39</b>, and an I/O controller <b>37</b>, except for the graphic controller <b>40</b>, for example.

p-0083A user input unit <b>38</b> may include various devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pen, a touch screen, etc., as long as it can be handled by a user to input a signal. Here, the I/O controller <b>37</b> may control the signal input through the user input unit <b>38</b>.

p-0084Further, the computer <b>30</b>, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may include a second network module <b>32</b> to be wirelessly connected to the access point <b>10</b>. Here the operation state data can be received from the access point <b>10</b> through the second network module <b>32</b>.

p-0085Preferably, though not limited thereto, the second controller <b>310</b> (shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>) of the computer <b>30</b>, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, may include a network driver <b>31</b> to control the second network module <b>32</b>. However, the second controller <b>310</b> may also be a separate application program based on an operating system (OS) or a built-in function of the OS. Hereinbelow, it will be supposed that the network driver <b>31</b> is used as the second controller <b>310</b> of the computer <b>30</b>, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

p-0086Network driver <b>31</b> may be embodied in computer readable code controlling operations of embodiments of the present invention, with the computer readable code being resident in a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium can be any data storage device that can store or transmit data which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable media include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, wave guides, and carrier waves (such as data transmission through the Internet or wireless networks, for example). The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code can be stored/transmitted and executed in a distributed fashion.

p-0087Thus, herein the network driver <b>31</b> will be described as being stored in the hard disk drive <b>39</b>, for example, and control the second network module <b>32</b> to transmit/receive data or perform other network relevant functions. Further, the network driver <b>31</b> may detect the operation state data included in a beacon signal, for example, from the data received through the second network module <b>32</b>. Also, the network driver <b>31</b> may allow the information about the data transmitting/receiving state of the access point <b>10</b> to be displayed on the display <b>33</b>, based on the received operation state data.

p-0088<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates information about a data transmitting/receiving state of the access point <b>10</b>, by way of example, as displayed on the display <b>33</b>, shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. As depicted therein, a user interface <b>90</b> may show a list of the access points <b>10</b> available to a computer <b>30</b> and an icon identifying the operation state of each access point <b>10</b>, thereby providing a user with the information about the data transmitting/receiving state of each access point <b>10</b>. In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, “<img id="CUSTOM-CHARACTER-00001" he="2.79mm" wi="4.23mm" file="US07492745-20090217-P00001.TIF" alt="custom character" img-content="character" img-format="tif" />” is used to indicate that the access point #<b>2</b> is in trouble.

p-0089Here, when a user selects one of the access points <b>10</b>, from the list of access points <b>10</b>, the network driver <b>31</b> visually informs a user of more detailed information, e.g., based on Tables 1 and 2, for the selected access point <b>10</b>, by various methods, e.g., via displayed text.

p-0090Hence, a user can connect a computer <b>30</b> to an available access point <b>10</b>, which is not in trouble, by referring to the operation states of the respective access points <b>10</b> displayed on the user interface <b>90</b>.

p-0091With this configuration, operations of the network system according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>.

p-0092In operation S<b>10</b>, a first controller <b>11</b> of an access point <b>10</b> checks the operation state of the access point <b>10</b>, that is, checks the data transmitting/receiving state related to a first network module <b>12</b> of the access point <b>10</b>. Here, the first controller <b>11</b> checks the operation state of the access point <b>10</b> as described above.

p-0093In operation S<b>11</b>, the first controller <b>11</b> creates operation state data corresponding to the data transmitting/receiving state of the access point <b>10</b>. In operation S<b>12</b>, the first controller <b>11</b> embeds the operation state data in a beacon signal, for example. In operation S<b>13</b>, the first controller <b>11</b> outputs the beacon signal, available to a computer <b>30</b>, through the first network module <b>12</b>.

p-0094Then, in operation S<b>14</b>, when the computer <b>30</b> receives the beacon signal of the access point <b>10</b>, through a second network module <b>32</b>, a network driver <b>31</b> of the computer <b>30</b> detects, in operation S<b>15</b>, the operation state data of the access point <b>10</b> from the received beacon signal. Herein, the network driver <b>31</b> may display the data transmitting/receiving state of the access point <b>10</b> on a display <b>33</b>, for example, based on the received operation state data, in operation S<b>17</b>. Further, for example, in operation S<b>16</b>, when a user's request is input through the user input unit <b>38</b>, the network driver <b>31</b> allows, in operation S<b>17</b>, the information about the data transmitting/receiving state of the access point <b>10</b> to be displayed on the display <b>33</b>.

p-0095According to embodiments of the present invention, an operation state data of an access point <b>10</b> can be embedded in a beacon signal and output from the access point <b>10</b>. However, according to other embodiments, the operation state data of the access point <b>10</b> may be outputted separately from the beacon signal, through a predetermined communication protocol.

p-0096<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a view of illustrating a network system, according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this network system, a server <b>10</b>′ corresponds to the host <b>100</b> (shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>) and supports a wired network, and a computer(s) <b>30</b>′ corresponds to the client <b>300</b> (shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>) and connects to the server <b>10</b>′ through the wired network.

p-0097In the network system of <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, the server <b>10</b>′ sends operation state data including information about a data transmitting/receiving state to the relevant computer <b>30</b>′.

p-0098Here, the operation state data of the network system, according to this embodiment of the present invention, is based on a predetermined protocol between the server <b>10</b>′ and the computer <b>30</b>′, so that the computer <b>30</b>′ can recognize the operation state data output from the server <b>10</b>′. Further, a reserved field or a predetermined field of a data packet based on a well-known protocol, such as a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), etc., can be allocated for recording the operation state data of the server <b>10</b>′, thereby allowing the computer <b>30</b>′ to recognize the operation state data.

p-0099In the case where the network system, according to the <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> embodiment of the present invention, is achieved by just interchanging a network system similar to aforementioned embodiment from the wireless networks to a wired network, the configurations and the operations of the network system according to the aforementioned embodiments can be equally applied to the wired network, without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.

p-0100As described above, there are provided the host <b>100</b> including the first network module <b>120</b>, and the first controller <b>110</b> checking a data transmitting/receiving state related to the first network module <b>120</b> and outputting operation state data about the data transmitting/receiving state related to the first network module <b>120</b> through the first network module <b>120</b>, and the client <b>300</b> including the display <b>330</b>, the second network module <b>320</b> receiving the operation state data from the host <b>100</b>, and the second controller <b>310</b> controlling the display <b>330</b> to display information about the data transmitting/receiving state of the host <b>100</b> on the basis of the operation state data received through the second network module <b>320</b>.

p-0101As described above, the present invention provides a computer, an access point, a network system and a control method thereof, in which a host can provide a client with operation state data corresponding to a data transmitting/receiving state of the host, thereby allowing a user to check the data transmitting/receiving state of the host computer.

p-0102Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.